ObamaCare, Lantau & Travel Plans

C-SPAN Is Better Than Sports

I woke up a bit earlier than usual for a Monday to start writing this blog. But, as I opened my browser to the Wall Street Journal, I was informed that the final debates and votes of the health care reform were going on right now. It was at that moment, that I was supremely excited that the US has something called C-SPAN, something I’ve only heard comedians joke about, and never watched. I got onto a live stream and watched, nervously and excitedly as they went through the mundane parliamentary procedures, and had their rounds of speeches saying stuff that I imagine has been said for months at this point. One thing I learned, that really appalled me, was that on most votes they have a shouting contest of "yea" vs. "nay", and the Speaker decides who is loudest. This is certainly a far cry from democracy, and it seems ridiculous considering they then have electronic devices to do vote counting. Why not have everyone get 5 seconds to put in their vote?

However, as I would check Facebook, something interesting was happening. Not only would I see my friends back at home writing about this, but also many of my international friends here! I felt a very strange sense of global community. Why would they, French, Austrian, and Dutch people be so excited about the political shitshow that has been going down in the US Congress. It made me think about how, even when we are in this gridlock of party bickering and political stand downs, we are still seen as this great nation, an exceptional nation. I don’t say this is a sense of entitlement, because I don’t think we deserve it right now, but it made me think hard about my role in our future as a country, and how I think we are making an impact already, by creating these relationships, explaining our countries issues and triumphs while abroad.

While I don’t claim to know anything but the mere basics of ObamaCare, I know that it’s a big step in the right direction, for several reasons. First is that, the more people I’ve seen and met and talked to, of different backgrounds and status, the more I realize the healthcare is just as essential of a human right as education or free speech. It is of great importance that people like myself, who were born into great health coverage, are treated the same as someone born at a different time or place or family. The second is that it shows that Obama and the Democratic party actually have some balls and some determination. While it took a year, it was so important for the confidence of our country that they follow through and accomplish this once and for all. Sure, it was watered down like a can of Natty, but you can always make it stronger, but not unless something concrete is there to build off of. Finally, I think this gives the Democrats some confidence moving forward, that they will hopefully use to continue to push environmental regulations, as well as reform of our financial system. We can only wait and see.

Lantau and The Big Buddha

Now, I will jump in my time machine back to the weekend, another very productive one of seeing things and being with good people. For the fourth Saturday in a row, I have gotten up and out of bed before noon, which I think is a record for me in recent memory.  By 10, Niclas, Alex and I were off to the MTR to make the trek out Lantau Island, which is actually more than double the size of Hong Kong Island, and is also the site of the HK Airport (a separate man-made island) and the Big Buddha.

(The first arrow is where the Big Buddha is. We took the cable car to there from Tung Chung, just on the orange road line. Second arrow gets us to Mui Wo and Silvermine Bay. Then down to Cheung Chau and back to HK)

We took the MTR all the way there, which was very convenient and cheap as always. Then we stopped for a quick lunch at a mall, where I got my first steak, with fork and knife, in 3 months. While it was certainly no Ruth’s Chris, it definitely did the job. Then we took a cable car up the mountains to see the Big Buddha. Waiting on line to buy our tickets, Niclas saw that for just a $5 US more, we could get the “Crystal Cable Car” – oooo sounds amazing right? Turns out, after our purchase, that this car just has some more holographic coloring on the outside, and a plate of glass on the bottom, mostly obscured by condensation. Oh well, you and live and you learn. The 20-minute ride up was absolutely beautiful, and it still amazes me that Hong Kong is just a couple miles away from such lush greenery and mountains.

(Surprisingly crowded and developed)

(Special "Crystal Car" pass up to the Big Buddha on the Ngong Ping peak)

(To get Crystal status, add fancy reflective paint to the outside)

(The "Crystal")

(That's the airport, built on a manmade island, in the background)

(There was a walking trail to get up as well. I couldn't believe how long it ended up being)

(Man of the hour)

(Bronze, built in 1993. Largest "sitting" Buddha in the world)

We got off and walked up towards the Buddha. It’s hard to explain in words how fake this place felt. First, I found out that the Buddha, though looking old, was created in 1993. I mean really, I’m older than that! Also, the entire area surrounding it used to be a Buddhist monastery and village, now completely overrun and looking like a down-sized Disney World. This is mostly because this is where local Hong Kong people flock to on the wekeends, to enjoy the not-so-polluted air, and take funny pictures. It was enjoyable nonetheless and I’m definitely glad I went.

(Memories of Disney. Also, people were eating cotton candy, that sealed the deal for me)

(I don't think there were enough gift shops)

(The view up. Reference how small the people are up there)

(Iconic shot if I may say so)

(Walking around at the pedestal)

(There was also a monastery there, built in 1924 - super old)

(Inside, cool lamps and things I don't understand)

(Sweet)

(Frist recorded, "oh my god you're huge and white can I take a picture with you" picture. More to come)

Cheung Chau Island

After the Buddha, we took a bus down to one of the main ports on Lantau, Mui Wo, where there is a wonderful fish market and beach called Silvermine Bay, as there used to be silver mines in this area. We walked around there for about 20 minutes before getting on a ferry to nearby Cheung Chau Island, where we would meet up with Kent, who had already been to Lantau before.

(Fish market in Mui Wo)

(Silvermine Bay)

(Cool bicycle rickshaw. Sooo many bikes on this part of the island)

(Along the bay)

(Very cheap, fresh fish)

(I think there was like 2 bikes for every person on the island)

An unthinkably slow ferry ride later, we arrived on Cheung Chau, which was mainly a fisher’s village, and is much less populated (about 30,000) than Lantau, and doesn’t get as many tourists, which was definitely an enjoyable sight. We walked around what seemed just like a little town (the island is no more than 1.5 miles top to bottom and about 3 minutes walk left to right), and crossed the island to get to the beach. We walked around and relaxed up by some of the rocks and just talked for about an hour before Alex and Niclas jumped in (they had prepared with swimsuits, I didn’t realize in the morning that this is where I’d be in the afternoon, oh well).

(Just off the pier at Cheung Chau. Funny how I don't consider this "crowded" anymore)

(Lot's of shops and restaurants along the water)

(I still can't enjoy the sight or smell of dried fish)

(Three minute walk to cross to the other side of the island)

(I think they were granite rocks)

(Niclas and Alex took a dip)

(Kent's really pimped-out bicycle)

(They do windsurfing a lot here. Apparently, the only HK person to medal in the olympics was in windsurfing in Atlanta in '96. I didn't even know they had windsurfing!)

(Around town)

(Sunset on Cheung Chau)

(The pier at night)

(Famous Cheung Chau treat. It's a potato that's been sliced in a curl, fried like a chip, and spiced and salted on a skewer. Pretty nice for a dollar)

(This was just funny)

Afterwards, Alex and Kent went back to HK for some plans they had made, and Niclas and I enjoyed some delightful seafood and Thai food along the water as the sun set. We walked around after, enjoyed a few beers and then, exhausted, boarded the ferry back to HK, where we opted for the scenic Star Ferry to get to the MTR, as the sky had cleared up a lot since earlier in the day.

(The mighty IFC against the night sky)

(It was a very clear weekend. One that was followed by two days of the highest pollution ever recorded in HK)

(Star Ferry pier)

(It will be a sad, sad day when I have to part from this)

Travel Plans

I almost wrote “End of Term” plans, but couldn’t get myself to come to terms with that. So, now I will outline a bit of what I have conceived of for my travel plans for the rest of the semester.

Cambodia

In two Sundays, I leave with my friend Floor (and possibly Niclas may meet us if a scholarship comes through) to Bangkok to make the infamous overland crossing into Cambodia. We will be in Siem Reap first for a couple of days (site of Angkor Wat) and then on to Phnom Penh for another couple days (lots of museums, and the famed Khmer Rouge Killing Fields), with some travel buffer in between. Then we will make it back to Bangkok for me to fly home on Saturday evening, and Floor will stay a few extra days in Thailand.

(Click to enlarge  - Off the map to the West is Bangkok. Train to the border then hopefully bus/van/taxi to Siem Reap. We will ride travel back to Bangkok from Phnom Penh at the end)

Vietnam

This is much more iffy, and I was hoping to do this over a long weekend in April, but it is not looking so promising. I’d want to go with a couple friends, but it may not work out given that a lot of people have their finals in-class, and in the 3^rd week of April, so coming back from Easter, many don’t have much flexibility. I may end up planning something on my own maybe.

China

I have a final on April 29, two papers on May 3^rd, and then a final on May 10. Even if I can’t get the papers done early, I still think I will take the opportunity to travel during that week “off”, aka, where I’d pretend to be studying but probably wouldn’t. The main concern here is whether I can get another visa to China before I leave. I currently have one entry left, but have been told that they may start limiting the number of visas they give out in advance of the Shanghai World Expo, as they had done in 2008 before the Olympics.

If I can get another visa, I’d like to go back to Shenzhen again, as well as take that week in May to do one of the shorter trips, only 10 hours by bus, to a town called Yangshou, which is in a valley, and has some of the most beautiful scenery in China. I’ve seen some of my friends pictures from there, and it’s a must-see either in that week, or afterwards.

After May 10, I will start my multi-week adventure in China.  It is unclear whether this will be on my own for most of it, or if I will be able to meet up with some friends in various places. Either way, I’m planning on going to Yangshou if I don’t beforehand. Then I would travel west to Kunming where my friend Kathryn Sparks is studying, spend a couple days there, and then travel with her north to Chengdu for a couple days (this is where the Pandas are). Then, off to Xi’an for the terracotta warriors, Beijing and Shanghai. Now, if I can get the extra visa into China, then I will be able to do this in hopefully two weeks. Then comes the finale.

(3800 miles of traveling - click to enlarge)

India

I have been talking with a senior friend of mine, Neehar, for probably more than six months now about meeting up in India.  After graduation, he has planned a three week trip with one of his friends to India, and has offered me a spot as well. I have been super excited about this possibility, but only now is it starting to seem more like reality.

They are arriving on the 24^th of May, and I have my flight home from Hong Kong on May 30^th. This would give me a solid week to join them for New Delhi and Mumbai. I can’t express how amazed I will be if I can pull this off, but I’m working hard on making it happen.

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Well, that’s pretty much it for now, and I’m exhausted just thinking about this trip, but equally excited and amazed at the amount of time and distance I might cover is just 3+ short weeks.

Last thing – I got a haircut today. This was a big deal for me, as, for three years, I have strategically scheduled my haircuts so that I only have to get them when I’m at home, and not have to find a new barber in St. Louis.

I’ve been going to see Larry in Mineola, NY, at his barbershop for more than 15 years now, and I don’t see any reason to halt my allegiance. Also, it has as much to do with the fact that, even if I went somewhere else, I would have no idea what to ask for, since for 15 years I just have to walk in, sit down, and Larry does the magic. Sitting in this hair salon on the CUHK campus, I could recount the horror stories I had heard from other people, and clenched as the “salonista” approached with the buzzer. I have never been so alert during a haircut in my life. Overall, it looks fine, but I could not dare go as short as I’d wanted, and I’ll probably have to get another cut before I leave. But, the monkey on my back has finally been removed, as well as an inch or two of hair, and I’m satisfied, and able to withstand the heat and humidity that will be coming my way all too soon.